Railpassion

Thanks Rob, Here's a pic from yesterday during a very dull afternoon.

The signals and track layout now in their last hours. Tomorrow is the final opportunity to travel over the existing layout. South Box used to control 30 points until the 70s then reduced to around 11 points in 1983 and now soon to be just 5.

7 engineering trains to Bridlington are booked over the curve this Friday overnight into Saturday.

Why the tall post? Note the down signal is replaced by a Dorman ILS type slightly further back.

Hi, Glad you are enjoying the new layout, the steamers look heavy and solid works of art. I find that most of my running is diesel as these are the smoothest runners in the garage. I have a Bachmann 24 from years ago which runs faultlessly even on dirty track. A Bachmann 20 (early dcc fitted) never disappoints, despite falling off the layout . The Hornby steam is an apple green N1 which is very temperamental and geared for 150 mph (mostly useless). The only reliable steam is a Bachmann analogue N class in Southern dull green which ploughs on and rarely hesitates. I have a Bachmann V1/3 but it is rather light and not as good. The only Hornby I've had that has worked as well as the superb (and cheap) Trix locos in my odd collection is a blue 08 shunter. Heljan locos seem to start well but run progressively poorly with time (is this the pick-ups and wheels?). I've a Mainline N1 that runs better than its Hornby upgraded version. When I was 13 I was frustrated at having to push Hornby locos at every session. My uncle was exasperated and gave me some money to buy a Fleischmann diesel - it was perfect and I went German. I saw Bachmann's stuff and that got me back into modelling ten years ago. I wouldn't buy anything by Hornby except rolling stock after my experiences with their steam and diesels (except the 08) I've tried US recently on a budget of £30 per loco. Two Bachmann GP's with hoods glide around the track at scale speeds, totally reliably. I was very impressed. Dapol was a series of returns to find something that worked. In what other hobby do you pay £140 or more for something that is faulty?

Here's jsb303's pic with today's view from a similar position

I took my 80yo aunt for her booster yesterday, she's near Scarborough.

RHTT season is underway and a new Yorkshire circuit is working York to York via Hull etc. Seen here at Bridlington passing trackwork for the relaying work. The photo is by Trains of Hull on flickr and was posted yesterday.

With over 12,000 deaths by shooting a year, the freedom to bear arms exacts a heavy price.

Platforms 7 and 8 now soon to be Lidl. All images are the correct way up on the camera

More views from Bridlington

It looks terrific. Very spacious and well built.

How do I turn photos the right way up?

There are some mixed messages here. Last month they were proclaiming they were running at a profit and now they want more. It's all a bit confused. As for the signal, is the low head a white light indicator for the crossing? These are usually at eye level but Minehead is exceptional.

Looking south over the sidings and a view of the station throat

Today I made a visit to Bridlington to see progress in the upcoming resignalling and relaying scheduled for October half term. The Up excursion line is removed and the sidings have been cleared ready for lifting.

On my visit to Bridlington today I saw around 30 cars queueing at Morrissons for fuel, the other garages seemed to have run out.

A sad sight to see - 7 and 8 starters down. End of an era.

NYMR has a four car dining set which in past years has brought in c. £240,000 per year. It is staffed by some volunteers and some paid staff. Since the early days the diner has provided a valuable base income stream for the NYMR. The QB was doing something similar for the WSR. It seems the QB made a profit until things were changed and it was taken over by the Plc. I have read more about the Plc in recent days and little of it is pleasant. The value of the QB set is in it's future income potential to the the railway. The value of the 4 carriages at auction may not be much at all. In Russia in the 90's some state companies were asset-stripped by certain cronies, new to the boards, and the value of the companies was then much reduced enabling a private buyout for pennies by the same cronies. In the UK it's not for nothing that the early actors in rail privatisation were known as the 'bus bandits'. So what is the real plan at the WSR?

I would be careful of the 1:40 gradient. Going up should be just about OK for powerful locos with traction tyres at speed, but coming down may present problems with couplings overriding especially on a helix. Many recommend 1:30 to 33 max.

The previous crossing had the flashing white light in the up direction but in the down direction, possibly uniquely, the flashing white was incorporated into the signal using a three aspect signal head. The Stationmaster may know of similar arrangements elsewhere. What started out as a fairly routine upgrade paid for by the council has become a fiasco endangering the future of the line. As late as October 2019 the Plc seemed to be discussing using semaphore signals and even relocating the signal box (!) despite being warned in an inspection in February 2018 that the crossing equipment would only last until March 2019. With no trains to trouble contractors in 2020, last year would have been an ideal time to get the job done.

YouTube is a good thing. It helps to see other modellers at all levels and some layouts are an inspiration. I've spent many an hour on dark winter days watching layout videos especially as I can now put them on my TV. One of the earliest channels I watched was @Jenny Emily and found I was looking back every few days to see what was running in and out of the shed. With YouTube you can share your layout the joys and tribulations.

The latest newsletter is here: https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/news/detail/platform-newsletter-june-2021 A not entirely honest explanation of the crossing situation. Also, direct criticism of the Plc by the WSRA. Others will be better placed to comment on the staffing changes. At least the WSR has some stunning views and there are some excellent pictures here and on the WSRA website. The 33 looks well, a credit to the guys at Williton.

Minehead is the centre piece of the WSR. A spacious track layout, ideal for crowds a few steps from the sea with stunning views. The town is well kept and the people are friendly. It certainly is a town worth visiting with Exmoor nearby and stunning beach walks to Dunster. It's a perfect place for families, it's not Padstein but there are reasonable restaurants and sensible prices. I spent a few days there around 2015 and met quite a few volunteers. One took me to a concert of the local orchestra where the audience was over 800. I'd half expected to find a town in decline like many seaside resorts but this was a town that had managed to retain its self-esteem. I was struck by the sheer number of WSR volunteers and their quiet enthusiasm. Things were done well and standards were high on the platform and onboard in the train buffets. That the railway management could even conceive threatening access to the jewel in their crown beggars belief. That the station will be cut off and silent for another high season in the year of the staycation can only mean the people in charge have some sort of death wish. It's such a shame. As for the timetable, not so good for those staying in Minehead, take a look https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/timetables/view/163

I haven't been keeping track of the WSR situation for a while and I read the latest news from the WSR with astonishment. That Minehead, the principal destination, will lose the entire summer due to the level crossing issue demonstrates how badly run the WSR really is. To have this happen after all the ill-feeling over the S&DR business and the earlier feuds must be heartbreaking for so many volunteers and staff. The particular signal arrangements had served the railway well and for the management to indulge themselves on a whim about semaphore signals and historical authenticity after the detailed design had already been drawn up demonstrates that they are not fit to continue in their roles.